Dave quickly dropped to his stomach to avoid being seen. The consequence was that he also couldn’t see what was going on. He heard screeching sounds coming from below him and moving along the hall. Once again the contrast to how these things sounded to him, inhuman screeches bearing nothing in common with normal squirrel sounds versus how Bixby sounded to him was on his mind. But he hadn’t much room for thought other than the fear that was gripping him.

He tried to be as quiet and pressed his stomach as flat to the wooden platform as possible. His heart was racing in his chest and he couldn’t differentiate the screeches from below. So he didn’t know how many there were. It could be two or it could be ten. The sound of their steps slowly moved them through the hall. If they decided to go up the ramp, their plans of escape would be over.

Dave felt the hard wooden floor against his chest, he tried to breath as quiet as possible, but it still felt unnaturally loud to his ears. The seconds trickled by underlined with the sound of their screeching.

Slowly the sounds started moving away and got quieter, still Dave didn't dare relax completely.

Finally they were past them. Bixby signaled Dave he could get up again.

“They are gone, which is good. We have a problem though, they went to where we came from. Probably to check on their friend. We have to hurry.” It was a race against the clock now.

They walked faster across the other platforms now. But luckily, a minute later, after only two more empty doors they found something. Peeking through the slit in the door Dave was finally greeted by a different sight. This room was bigger than the ones before, nothing but a big pole stood in the back, looking like a slender grown tree.

His friends were tied around that pole, bound and gagged, seemingly asleep. Two Nodefoxes kept guard, sitting on some sort of miniature armchairs and playing a game with what looked like nutshells on a small table between them. To Dave it looked like some form of board game. Maybe like checkers?

He realized he was getting lost in thought and quickly ducked back down again. Luckily they were so immersed into their game that they hadn’t noticed Dave watching them through the little opening in the door.

Cowering in front of the door, Dave looked at Bixby. They would have to rush in there and Dave had to neutralize one of them as quickly as possible, hoping that Bixby could do his part. Dave shared a look with Bixby who returned with a grim nod. Getting ready Dave counted from three down on his fingers. When the last finger had curled up to his palm again he pushed the door open with his free hand and charged in with his spear held waist high.

All eyes turned towards the door at the sudden tumult. Time was frozen for a second. Some people around the pole looked a bit confused and drowsy. The Nodefoxes were shocked, staring at Dave with wide open eyes.

Dave ran at the closest one, crossing the short distance in a few steps.

The Nodefox was quick though and got to his feet in time, he started summoning ominous red energy in his hands.

But Dave was quicker. Just as was about to raise his hands towards him, the red energy emitting dangerous light, Dave thrust his spear forward. In the same motion he used when knocking down the door to his cell, he put his whole body into it. Following the familiar movements the spear went cleanly into the chest of the Nodefox. Impaling it deeply.

Dave was still in a run and stumbled a few steps farther after already having connected with the Nodefox. The sudden shift in weight almost unbalanced him. But the thing was definitely dead, his spear had ripped a big part out of it’s chest.

He stepped onto the dead body to pull out his spear, while he looked over to Bixby's fight. The two were an entanglement of fur and a furious screeching was heard with a few british curses being thrown in. Dave wanted to help him out with a shock but he couldn’t hold them apart as close as they were. Their fight was an endless exchange of clawing and biting.

So instead he freed his friends. Just now he saw how worse for wear some of them seemed, one of the girls and Max were still unconscious. With a quick from the tip of his spear he separated the rope that had tied them all together to the pole. Each of them still had their hands tied and mouths gagged. As Dave was about to cut loose the one closest to him, he heard a big thump. He looked over and saw that Bixby had been thrown at the wall, now lying at the bottom of it, clearly dazed.

Without hesitation he sent out a Minor Spark at the Nodefox that was rushing Bixby. A quick flash of light went off, the Nodefox was being thrown back a few inches and fell to the ground.

But it seemed tougher than the one before. If it was the extra distance or if this one had some kind of skill Dave didn't know. But it was getting up, looking at him with fury in his eyes.

Stolen novel; please report.

He wanted to send out another Spark but found out to his shock, pun intended, that he was unable to do so.

He couldn’t concentrate any energy into his Skill again. Panicking, he held up his spear in the last second as his opponent rushed him. The Nodefox jumped at him, seemingly growing a few more inches during the jump.

He was able to block its claws by holding the spear vertically between them but the weight of the beast made them fall to the ground together. Now Dave held the spear between them in a desperate struggle for life and death.

The Nodefox snapped in the air and Dave felt its weight sitting on top of him. It was heavier than it looked and it smelled strong, to put it mildly.

It was a desperate fight, the Nodefox not being able to reach him and Dave barely able to hold him off. It was only a second or two but it felt like an eternity. Then Dave suddenly got a feeling like he could use Minor Spark again. He didn’t know what had changed or where this feeling came from but he instinctively knew it to be true. However he had no chance to aim at the beast, because he had to keep his hands on the spear or it would bite down on his neck. He had to gamble.

Dave bridged at the hip to roll the Nodefox off him, but it held fast, it was however unbalanced for a second, which Dave used to shoot out his right hand. The Nodefox immediately wanted to bite down on Dave but once again Dave was quicker. His hand touched the hairy shoulder and he instantly released the concentrated energy from his hand. A sparking like a fused out switch was heard and the Nodefox started spasming wildy before it fell down next to Dave.

Dave relaxed on the floor and took a big breath. Exhaustion swept over him. That had been a close call. He wanted to just lay there for a bit but he knew he had to get up. A furry hand appeared in his view. Dave smiled and took it. Pulling himself up he was surprised how strong Bixby was, still because of his height he wasn’t much of a help. But it’s the gesture that counts.

When Dave went over to help the others out of their bindings he saw Ryland already being free and helping the others. He somehow ripped apart the thick rope with his bare hands as if it was nothing. Dave was impressed, either that was a skill of him or he had been that insanely strong before.

Ryland was a short guy, sure he looked a little jacked before but that feat still seemed inhuman.

Sam and the other girl were already up rubbing their hands and staring at the dead Nodefoxes on the ground.

“Hey guys, I’m glad you’re okay but we have to get out of here.” Dave said “Quickly.”

“Dave…what, what happened?” Sam said, looking concerned. Dave was quite an appearance, he looked all bloody, with a nasty wound in his leg and holding a Spear that was dripping with Squirrel blood.

But when they saw past Dave, they were even more shocked. Turning, Dave saw that they looked at Bixby. They probably trusted Bixby even less than he did at the beginning.

“I can explain but for now just know that he’s a friend and he will help us get out. What do we do with them?” Dave said, nodding at the still unconscious Max and the other girl.

“I can carry them, I think.” Ryland said.

The others turned at him. “What do you mean you can carry them? On your own?” the girl said.

“I got that Skill that gives me extra strength, I should be able to take them.” Ryland answered looking thoughtful. "If we carry them as a group, it will only slow us down."

“Skill? What do you mean?” The girl looked utterly lost now.

Sam wasn’t much better off, he looked at Dave curiously and asked “Were did you get that spear from?”

“Well not now, I think we can explain Skills later but we have to get out now. There are more of these things and we have to get out. Oh and yes we’re in some sort of giant tree dungeon and these squirrels aren’t actually squirrels but some sort of sapient pack animals called Nodefoxes. But again Bixby here is cool. Let’s go now.” Dave quickly rambled down something to at least calm them a little bit.

Ryland just shrugged and went over to Max and the girl. He breathed in deeply and suddenly a little jolt went through him. Then he bend down to pick the girl up, he lifted her easily. Putting her under one of his arms he went over to Max to repeat the process.

When he stood there in front of them, having one fully grown person under each arm without even looking a little strained, Dave got a bit jealous. He heard Sam gasping in shock.

Bixby went out of the room and gave them a sign to follow.

“Did.. did the squirrel just talk now?” the girl said, eyes wide.

“Yeah Bixby can talk, again I will explain more later. Just trust the squirrel” Dave answered and followed Bixby out of the door.

“But.. but why does he have a British accent…” the girl's voice trailed off as Ryland passed her.

“Come on, we’ve gotta go Mira” Sam took her by the arm and dragged her out as well.

They made their way over the first few bridges easily. But just before they reached the ramp Bixby stopped them again.

“The group from before is coming back, but they are running this time.” he warned, after a second of thought he added. “I don’t think we can outrun them.”

Well they also couldn’t hide and two of them were still unconscious. Dave gripped his spear tightly and stepped forward. He knew there was only one way.

“We can take them. Ryland, this is the exit over there. You two better go with him, Bixby and I will distract them and you escape. We follow later.” Dave was impressed with how confident he sounded. His voice shook a lot less than he thought, but Max would’ve still heard the nervousness from it.

Ryland gave him a concerned look and a nod before heading off. The girl immediately followed him, shortly after followed by Sam who first looked a bit conflicted between Dave and the others. But by now the steps were in hearing range even for humans and Sam decided to follow the others into freedom